Nerd Fuel: Starbucks – 2017 Holiday Blend

December is here! Yes, that does mean Star Wars but it also means there’s a plethora of tasty seasonal coffees lining the store shelves. Last year, I sampled and reviewed three different seasonal coffees. This year, the options are not very different. But Starbucks can always be relied on to provide some variation to the theme. Last year, they presented us with a FANTASTIC Holiday Blonde Roast. This year, we have a more traditional holiday-themed blend. So let’s dive right in…

This year’s offering is labeled as a medium roast with “sweet and maple notes”. However, to me, it seemed a tad darker than what I’d expect from a medium roasted coffee. It certainly smells very dark when brewing. Even in the cup it has a hint of bitterness that’d I’d come to expect from a dark roasted coffee. But… it’s not quite as strong. Very interesting.

It’s a very rich and flavorful coffee. But I don’t really detect any maple in the mix. Regardless, it is very satisfying. It’s perfect for a crisp winter morning. It almost has a “hearty” quality about it – very difficult to describe. If you enjoy bold and complex coffees, this will certainly be worth your time. But more casual drinkers might find this blend to be a bit much.

Personally, I found the coffee to be enjoyable and a welcome change of pace. But, I can’t say it’s one that gets me very excited.

Score: 3 out of 4

Would buy again?: Maybe. This is a quality coffee. But it seemed aimed towards people who enjoy bold roasts or artisan-style coffees. I would not recommend putting this out in the office or at a holiday party. This is not a one-size-fits-all.